Whizzkid Cooper just misses out in London

Neil Cooper, Reading's under-16 national track sprint champion, took second place in the open series at the Chequers Road Club meeting, Herne Hill, London, on Saturday.

The weather, as so often this season, was against riders in the Alton Cycling Club's 25-mile time trial between Alton and Farnham on Sunday with a usual north-west wind and low temperatures.

David Harrison was the fastest Reading rider - unusually for him finishing outside the hour in 1hr 0mins 15secs. David Clifford recorded 1hr 5mins 56secs and John Barnes slumped to 1hr 12mins 36secs. Unfortunately Rod MacFadyen was unable to take part.

Pardoe has now won all six events so far completed in the Dave Finch memorial series and has scored 120 points, 20 more than the full score of 100 needed to win.

Phil Roberts rode well in the Eelmore circuit race at Aldershot on Wednesday. He and Pedal-On rider Peter Graham broke away from the field and gained half a lap at which point the Liphook Cycles professional team sensed danger and worked together to catch the pair, then used team tactics to get their rider away to win.

Road racing secretary Ross Pitheridge was sixth in the 3rd and 4th category race at Eelmore and 12th in a massed sprint of 70 riders in the 80km Foxley Road Race at Towcester.

The penultimate club event for Reading Cycling Club members in the present series will take place on Tuesday August 20 on the Heckfield, Hook, Hartley Wintney, Eversley circuit, starting at 7pm.